This batch ranges from tightly wound vertical shooters to Sega-style aerial spectacle, with one heavenly detour into 16-bit action and town building.

1941: Counter Attack

Capcom’s 1941 sortie puts its loop maneuver at the center of every close call, spending life-bar health to clear weaker threats and batter bosses. The choice between unlimited base fire, limited upgrades, and charged shots gives its two-player dogfights a pleasantly scrappy rhythm.

1943 Kai

the PC Engine version of 1943 Kai takes the Midway formula in a stranger direction, with laser-firing aircraft and other deliberately anachronistic targets mixed into the wartime setting. Its additional stages and animated intermissions make an interesting contrast with the more direct arcade-style entries here.

Acrobat Mission

Acrobat Mission’s Mars-to-moon assault is a five-stage vertical shooter where bombs can absorb a bullet and enemy collisions shove the ship instead of ending a run outright. Which weapon would you take into its triple-boss fourth stage: the close-range charged Wide shot or the circling Hurricane fire?

ActRaiser

ActRaiser’s divine campaign alternates sword-and-spell platform stages with directing villagers as they rebuild liberated regions. Rain, wind, fire, and an angelic helper make the quieter map sections feel properly connected to the monster-clearing work.

Aero Fighters

Aero Fighters’ four-pilot lineup lets players choose among four national pilots and their distinct aircraft, then rearranges part of its seven-stage route between runs. The shifting order is a fine fit for a shooter that asks you to adapt your weapon pickups to each plane.

Aero Fighters 2

Aero Fighters 2’s global tour expands the roster to eight planes and sends two-player teams across ten locations, including Japan, Brazil, and space. Its power-ups visibly alter shot patterns, while the bosses lean into the series’ playful streak with machines such as a whale-shaped carrier.

Aero Fighters 3

Aero Fighters 3’s ten-aircraft roster brings ten aircraft to an eight-stage world tour, with individual primary weapons, secondary attacks, and screen-clearing bombs. Japan, Germany, Libya, Egypt, and the final space battle give the campaign a brisk postcard-like progression.

Aeroboto

Aeroboto’s transforming machine shifts between a ground-running Mobile Robot and a fuel-limited Aero Fighter during one continuous horizontal assault. Its charged fire and transformation timing invite a good comparison with the more conventional vertical shooters in this selection.

After Burner III

After Burner III’s Strike Fighter conversion casts the player in an F-14 with missiles and Vulcan fire, offering cockpit and chase-camera views for its dogfights. Arcade, Timed, and Hits modes sit alongside air-to-ground objectives, keeping the action focused on solo sorties.

After Burner: Climax

After Burner: Climax’s EX missions keeps the series on a tight rail, asking for missile dodges, quick locks, and fast reactions rather than free-form flying. Its Climax gauge slows time so you can mark a cluster of enemies before the rocket volley lands, and the branching route gives repeat runs different objectives.

Which would you return to first for a score chase: 1941’s loop attacks, an Aero Fighters plane route, or After Burner: Climax’s branching EX missions?